Police searching for a missing girl in the Northern Territory
have found what they believe to be human remains inside a
crocodile.
The seven-year-old girl was swimming with other children and
an adult at a local waterhole at the Gumarrirnbang
outstation, 100 kilometres west of the remote community of
Maningrida, when a crocodile attacked on Friday afternoon.
She was last seen being dragged under the water by the
animal, which had also attacked the man who had been with her
in the billabong.
A three-metre crocodile was shot dead in the billabong just
before noon on Saturday, Senior Sergeant Shaun Gill of NT
Police said.
When it was examined, they found what is thought to be human
remains in its stomach contents.
"Further forensic testing will be conducted in Darwin to
determine if the remains are human and, if found human, the
identity of the person," Sgt Gill said.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner and an
investigation will be launched.
Members of the community had been searching for the girl from
first light on Saturday, joined by the Territory Response
Group, the Water Police Section and a ranger from the
Crocodile Management Unit.
Sgt Gill said officers had worked under difficult conditions.
"This is a heartbreaking outcome for the family and the
community," he said.
Crocodiles are not thought to have been seen in the area
previously and the community believed the billabong to be
safe.
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